Tropical Fish Forums

[Caton]

I was wondering how much would it cost to set up a ten gallon salt water tank. I have a light that is 19 watts and a the tank with the filter... That is all. How much would it cost to get the live rock, fish (stocking ideas?) and anything else I might need such as salt. I have live redworms that I can feed them would this be okay? So stocking and what else would I need? The filter a tetra EX30 rated for a 30 gallon and says it will work for both fresh and saltwater.

Prices of thing + stocking idea's please.
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[FloridaBoy]

You will need a hydrometer and a heater, some type of cover, marine salt, and a good reference book like The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner. Depending on your goals, some live rock (optional) and maybe a very thin sand bed (optional)... prices can be found online. Plenty of prepared marine foods available, stocking ideas might include one small Clownfish or a pair of Neon Gobies. For other comments on livestock, see my list here:
http://www.aquahobby.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=17688

I would suggest buying the book first and read it before you purchase anything else. Keep in mind, you would really be better off with a minimum 29-30 gallon system, and use the 10 gallon for a quarantine tank; see Myths No 1 and 4 here:
http://www.aquahobby.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=24970
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Keepin' marines happy for 25 years

[Caton]

I wa thinking about having some live rock with a clownfish, I read the thing NOT to keep but I have heard that blue-legged hermit crabs are easy to keep. All I have is 100$. I do have a 29 gallon and a ten gallon but no light for the 29 gallon. Oh and by the way, I have a heater for my 10 gallon. I want to have live rock. I do also have a 55 gallon with a 48" shop light also with a heater. Sadly it leaks and I am planning on fixing it silicon.
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[FloridaBoy]

Right, well if you want your live rock to truly thrive with corallines, you will need to dose regularly to provide the correct chemistry, calcium levels, etc. Your research will lead to success, make the book your next purchase.
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Keepin' marines happy for 25 years

[Caton]

Okay. So I might be getting a fully set-up saltwater aquarium from craigslist. Based on what the guy said I may want to get rid of all the fish he has in it and start over with the fish. If the lighting is good is there any chance I could keep a coral of some kind? I have not researched it a lot. I need to keep googling things and looking on here of what othe people have asked. In a 30 gallon I was thinking of a pair of clownfish and 5 neon gobies? Would this be to much?
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[FloridaBoy]

Before you get into live corals, I would suggest a hardy marine fish-only system or perhaps a FOWLR (with live rock) for a year or so. You can actually have a fascinating and successful marine aquarium without any corals at all.
You can certainly keep corals, (softies are a good starting point) but only if you are prepared in three primary areas; equipment, knowledge and time. See Myth 15 here:
http://www.aquahobby.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=24970

Here is more on getting your corallines off to a good start:
http://www.garf.org/NORM/coralline/corallinenorm.html
http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=saltaquarium&cdn=homegarden&tm=41&f=21&su=p284.9.336.ip_p812.0.336.ip_&tt=29&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.garf.org/coralline.html
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Keepin' marines happy for 25 years